Lecture 23 - Personality Disorders II Flashcards
What is the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths?
Psychopaths are on the extreme end of the antisocial spectrum. Sociopaths are more emotional and disorganized, and can form attachments.
What are the defining traits of Antisocial PD? (4)
Disregard for consequences/others, delay gratification, self-defeating and irrational (aversive outcome outweighs reward).
What are the constitutional factors of Antisocial PD? (2)
Broad heritability of trait-dispostional, which makes them vulnerable to externalizing factors (environmental/family influences).
What are the biological factors of APD? (4)
Reduced serotonin levels, lower resting heart rate (sensation seeking). Poor inhibition and strong emotional reactivity (deficits in the PFC).
What are the psychosocial factors of APD? (3)
Peer group interaction (unsure on causality), personality/temperament, dysfunctional role modelling in childhood and negative interactions with the family.
How effective are treatments for APD?
Psychological interventions are fairly ineffective, with medication only showing limited success. This effectiveness worsens with severity.
What are the defining traits of BPD?
Poor identity and feelings of emptiness, constant need to be validated.
What are the genetic and biological factors for BPD?
Genetic: Trait-impulsive aggression and trait-mood dysregulation are transmitted -> environmental factors enhance genetics.
Biological: different amygdala and PFC, lower levels of serotonin, emotional instability, impulsive behaviours.
What are the aims of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy in BPD?
Dialectic approach, where opposites are integrated -> acceptance and change. Acceptance of the self and the current situation but changing behaviours that are harmful (to the self or others).
What are the four skill modules in DBT for BPD?
- Mindfulness: attending to events using emotions and behaviours.
- Distress tolerance: experience the present without wanting to change it; accepting reality.
- Emotion regulation: identifying and labeling affect, how it was triggered, etc.
- Interpersonal effectiveness: development of interpersonal problem solving skills; learn to say no while maintaining positive relationships.
What are the aims of Schema-focused therapy?
Identifies the schema, then identifies how they operate in day-to-day life. Begin to replace negative cognitions with healthy ones.
What are the three coping styles in SFT?
Schema surrender: unconsciously playing into schema.
Schema avoidance: avoidance of the activation of schema.
Schema overcompensation: act in the opposite ways of schema so as to avoid activation.
